Protective Service Workers, All Other Salary
The median pay for a protective service workers, all other in Pennsylvania is $34,320/year ($16.5/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $24K at the entry level to $55K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 94.97), which stretches that salary to about $36,138 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,351/month, about 56.7% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Pennsylvania. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $34K get you in Pennsylvania?
About protective service workers, all others
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What this looks like in Pennsylvania
Pay for protective service workers, all other in Pennsylvania runs about 19% below the U.S. median of $43K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,351/month, which is 56.8% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 94.97 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 5% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. That combination, below-market pay with high housing costs, makes this a financially demanding market for protective service workers, all others.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Pennsylvania
Entry-level protective service workers, all others (10th percentile) start around $24K. Mid-career wages sit at $34K. Top earners bring in $55K or more, a $30K spread from bottom to top.
Protective Service Workers, All Other salary by metro in Pennsylvania
13 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gettysburg | $42K | +21% | 40 |
| Lebanon | $39K | +13% | 60 |
| Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton | $38K | +12% | 400 |
| Pittsburgh | $36K | +5% | 960 |
| Scranton--Wilkes-Barre | $36K | +4% | 200 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington | $35K | +2% | 2,760 |
| Lancaster | $34K | -1% | N/A |
| Williamsport | $34K | -1% | 60 |
| York-Hanover | $33K | -3% | 260 |
| Erie | $33K | -4% | 120 |
| State College | $33K | -4% | 60 |
| Harrisburg-Carlisle | $30K | -11% | 270 |
| Reading | $28K | -19% | 180 |
Showing 1–10 of 13 metros
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BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Pennsylvania numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a protective service workers, all other afford a 2BR apartment alone in Pennsylvania?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $34K, rent takes 56.8% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,351/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $700/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for protective service workers, all others in Pennsylvania?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new protective service workers, all others typically earn — is $24K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,459/month. At HUD’s $1,351/month FMR, rent would take 93% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is protective service workers, all other a high-paying job in Pennsylvania?
Local pay runs 19% below the national median — $34K here vs. $43K nationally. Cost of living is 5% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Pennsylvania compare to the national average for protective service workers, all others?
Pennsylvania pays $34K median vs. the U.S. average of $43K — that’s -19%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 94.97), the purchasing-power equivalent is $36K — below the national median.
How much do protective service workers, all others make in Pennsylvania?
The median is $34,320 a year, that works out to about $17 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $24,320, and experienced protective service workers, all others can clear $54,620. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $34K enough to live in Pennsylvania?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,380/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,351/month, which eats 56.8% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a protective service workers, all other salary go in Pennsylvania?
Pennsylvania has a Regional Price Parity of 94.97 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median protective service workers, all other salary is worth about $36,138 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do protective service workers, all others get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.